Zimbabwe violence escalates

Opposition activists have been targeted and killed. South African President Thabo Mbeki arrived in Zimbabwe Friday for talks with President Robert Mugabe.

By
David Montero /
May 9, 2008

Post-election violence in Zimbabwe has escalated sharply, with thousands of farmers pushed off their land and gangs loyal to President Robert Mugabe beating to death several opposition members. Fears of a political and economic meltdown have prompted some African leaders to intervene.

Opposition members and observers blame Mugabe for the violence, accusing his Army of supporting militias and violent gangs that are targeting the opposition. The Army, however, has said it is not involved, Voice of America reports.

Among those also targeted are said to be a growing number of Zimbabwe's farmers. Reuters reports that the move appears to be part of an escalating campaign of intimidation.

Farmers' groups said ZANU-PF has pushed 40,000 workers off farms in a campaign targeting supporters of the opposition ahead of a possible presidential run-off. The groups said armed youth militias drove workers off the farms.

"We have had security agents going out to the farms, addressing the farm workers," Gertrude Hambira, general secretary of the General Agriculture and Plantation Workers' Union of Zimbabwe, told a news conference in Johannesburg.

"Some of them saying that we need to discipline you because you voted for the opposition," she said adding [that] 400 workers were in hiding and three were in hospital after being assaulted.

The British Broadcasting Corp., meanwhile, reported that a "war veterans" militia planned a campaign of intimidation during any run-off vote. A policeman told the BBC that members of the militia would pose as police officers and be based at polling stations.